Man wants more than a retaining wall after blast

Anne M. Amato

Updated 11:34 pm, Tuesday, April 9, 2013

SHELTON -- The Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday night closed a public hearing on altering the construction of a commercial building on River Road.

But not before the attorney representing an adjacent property owner, whose home has been left next to a cliff after excavation work at the commercial site, raised some concerns.

The property owner -- John Wardowski, 34, of Turner Road -- had been told to expect minimal damage from blasting to clear the construction site of rock. However, his property's original buffer zone "was blown up and gone," leaving him living near the edge of a 45-foot drop.

Wardowski, who has asked for the blasting to be investigated by city and state fire marshals, was at Tuesday's meeting with his attorney, Dominick Thomas.

Representatives from the project's developer, Bishop Management, told commission members they plan to build a concrete retaining wall to stabilize the property. They also plan to erect a fence near the cliff area to make sure no one falls down it.

"The concerns my client has are for the structural integrity of his house and its property value," Thomas said, showing photos he took from Wardowski's backyard. "He used to stand on his deck to look out at a tree area."

But the trees are now gone.

Thomas said Wardowski believes the amount of buffer left after the collapse "is not what was originally proposed" and he wants it restored. The attorney also said his client is concerned about whether his house still stands on firm ground.

"Has anyone done borings into the ledge to see if it's stable?" Thomas asked commission members.

He told the commission his goal is to resolve the matter and not to litigate it.

"Maybe there are options," Thomas said.

"We understand the issue at hand," said Howard Saffan, a principal with Bishop Management, who attended. "We certainly didn't aim to get this scenario, but we are responsible for it."

Earlier in the meeting, Joe Grasso, representing Bishop Management, outlined plans for the concrete retaining wall, an L-shaped structure that will be put on the northeast corner of the River Road property.

But Wardowski has said putting up the wall to stabilize his property won't make him feel any better. Regardless, Wardowski has said, he will be left with a 45-foot cliff.

Bishop Management plans to build a single-story commercial building on River Road that would have multiple tenants.

The plan, which called for a zone change from residential to commercial, was approved last October by the commission. Only one commission member, Joan Flannery, voted against it.